HC upholds govt’s land acquisition for RIL

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has ordered a farmer to vacate his land for acquisition by the state government. The land was being acquired for construction of a housing colony by Reliance Industries Ltd in Jamnagar.
The court has held that the land acquisition process for the RIL was proper because the company faces serious terrorist threat in wake of increasing militant activities. Due to security reasons, the pocket land must be acquired so others cannot have any access to the place, the court ruled. The state government wanted to acquire a two-hectare plot of Sulaiman Katiya — a farmer in the Motikhavdi village near the oil refinery. Katiya took the matter to the HC, opposing the acquisition.
He alleged that nearly 1,000 residential quarters of the company were lying vacant and the company had misused the land by utilising 1,000 acres for mango plantation and making luxurious buildings for VIPs apart from developing a golf course and stadium. He argued that, acquisition of his land by the government is thus not justified. The state government stated that capacity of the refinery has increased from 9 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 33 MMTPA.
“Any refinery in the country faces a huge security threat in view of the recent terrorist activities. The refineries are required to have adjoining housing colony. Security of refinery and housing colony is responsibility of Central Industrial Security Force,” it submitted.